A Silver Alert is a public notification system in the United States that broadcasts information about missing persons, especially senior citizens with Alzheimers disease, dementia, or other mental disabilities, to aid in locating them. The system uses a wide array of media outlets, such as commercial radio stations, television stations, and cable television, to broadcast information about missing persons. In some states, Silver Alerts also use variable-message signs on roadways to alert motorists to be on the lookout for missing seniors. Silver Alerts can also be used for children who are missing without being in danger or abducted.

Each state has its own criteria for activating a Silver Alert, but generally, law enforcement agencies must be satisfied that the missing person is at risk and meets certain criteria, such as being 65 years of age or older, developmentally disabled, or cognitively impaired. Law enforcement agencies are the only ones who can request activation of a Silver Alert, and they must have utilized all available local resources before requesting a Silver Alert.

Silver Alerts are an important tool for locating missing persons and providing immediate information to the public to aid in their swift recovery.